Would neuer flit but euer were stedfast, "Now faire madame" (quod I) "yet I would pray, Your ladiship if that it might be, That I might know by some maner way, Sith that it hath liked your beaute, The trouth of these ladies for to tell me, "And why that some did reuerence to that tre, And some vnto the plot of floures faire :" "With right good will my fair doghter" (quod she) "Sith your desire is good and debonaire, Tho nine crowned be very exemplaire, Of all honour longing to chiualry, And those certaine be called the nine worthy, "Which ye may see riding all before, "And tho that beare bowes in their hond "Eke there be knights old of the garter, "For one leafe giuen of that noble tree "And as for her that crowned is in greene, And not delite of no businesse, But for to hunt and hauke, and pley in medes, And many other such idle dedes. And for the great delite and pleasaunce They vnto it do such obeisaunce As ye may see."—"Now faire Madame" (quod I) "If I durst aske what is the cause and why, That knights haue the signe of honour, Rather by the leafe than the flour." "Soothly doughter” (quod she) "this is the trouth, For knights euer should be perseuering, To seeke honour without feintise or slouth, Whose lusty green May may not appaired be, "But aie keping their beautie fresh and greene, Woll be lost, so simple of nature They be, that they no greeuance may endure. "And euery storme will blow them soone away, Ne they last not but for a season, That is the cause, the trouth to say, very That they may not by no way of reason "Madame" (quod I) "with all mine whole seruise, I thanke you now in my most humble wise. "For now I am ascertained thoroughly, Tel me I pray, this yere, the Leafe or the Flour."* "Madame" (quod I) "though I least worthy, Unto the Leafe I owe mine obseruaunce:" "That is" (quod she) "right well done certainly, And I pray God to honour you auaunce, And all that good and well conditioned be. "For here may I no lenger now abide, I tooke my leue of her as she gan hie, And put all that I had seene in writing How darst thou put thy self in prees for drede, Sith that thou wost full lite who shall behold EXPLICIT. |